Boys hoops | Simeon's Parker named Illinois Gatorade POY

Simeon senior Jabari Parker was named the Gatorade Illinois Boys Basketball Player of the Year on Thursday.

The 6-foot-8 forward was the Gatorade national boys basketball player of the year as a junior and repeats as the state winner of the award, which honors athletic and academic excellence and exemplary character. He is now in the running to repeat as the national player of the year.

Parker, a Duke recruit, averaged 18.4 points, 10.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.9 steals while leading Simeon (30-3) to its fourth consecutive Class 4A state championship. He also had a 3.71 grade-point average and was involved in several school activities.

Earlier this week, the McDonald's All-American was named the Morgan Wootten national player of the year.

He joins former Simeon star Derrick Rose (2006-07) as a two-time winner of the award.

"Jabari Parker's calling card is his versatility and his uncommon ability to put winning in front of individual accolades," ESPNU recruiting national director Paul Biancardi said in a release announcing the award. "He possesses a high basketball IQ along with scoring skills to present matchup problems for opponents."

Parker's former middle-school teammate, Young's Linnae Harper, will play in the McDonald's games April 3 the United Center.